Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 220 / 466

UPSC CSE Prelims 2018

It is no longer enough for us to talk about providing for universal access to education. Making available schooling facilities is an essential prerequisite, but is- insufficient to ensure that all children attend school and participate in the learning process. The school may be there, but children may not attend or they may drop out after a few months. Through school and social mapping, we must address the entire gamut of social, economic, cultural and indeed linguistic and pedagogic issues, factors that prevent children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups, as also girls, from regularly attending and complementing elementary education. The focus must be on the poorest and most vulnerable since these groups are the most disempowered and at the greatest risk of violation or denial of their right to education. The right to education goes beyond free and compulsory education to include quality education for all. Quality is an integral part of the right to education. If the education process lacks quality, children are being denied their right. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act lays down that the curriculum should provide for learning through activities, exploration and discovery. This places an obligation on us to change our perception of children as passive receivers of knowledge, and to move beyond the convention of using textbooks as the basis of examinations. The teaching-learning process must become stress-free; and a massive programme for curricular reform should be initiated to provide fora child-friendly learning system, that is more relevant and empowering. Teacher accountability systems and processes must ensure that children are learning, and that their right to learn in a child-friendly environment is not violated. Testing and assessment systems must be re-examined and redesigned to ensure that these do - not force children to struggle between school and tuition centres, and bypass childhood.
What is the essential message in this passage?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option (C)

The passage explicitly states that the right to education extends beyond merely providing free and compulsory schooling. It emphasizes that quality education for all is an integral component of this right. The text highlights that if the educational process lacks quality, children are effectively being denied their right. It advocates for a paradigm shift from passive reception of knowledge to active learning through activities, exploration, and discovery, necessitating curricular reform, stress-free learning environments, and revised assessment systems.

Incorrect Options:

Option (A) is incorrect because while the Right to Education is indeed a Fundamental Right, the passage's essential message is not to state this fact, but rather to elaborate on what this right *should encompass* beyond its current interpretation, particularly focusing on the dimension of quality.

Option (B) is incorrect because although the passage acknowledges the importance of enabling children from poor and weaker sections to attend schools, it explicitly states that providing schooling facilities is "insufficient." The core message moves beyond mere access to emphasize the quality of the learning process and holistic participation.

Option (D) is incorrect because the passage's primary focus is on systemic reforms in curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment to ensure quality and child-friendly learning, rather than solely on the responsibility of government and parents to ensure attendance. While attendance is a prerequisite, the passage delves deeper into the qualitative aspects of education.